Exit interview

Taft hopes accomplishments are not lost in controversies

COLUMBUS — Though he realizes many may remember him for ethical lapses that stained his second term, Gov. Bob Taft hopes Ohioans don’t forget the accomplishments made during his eight years in office.

“I hope that they remember what we did from the standpoint of improving schools, improving our business climate for prosperity in the years ahead, cleaning up brownfields and also leaving the state in good financial condition,” Taft said Dec. 27, less than two weeks before Gov.-elect Ted Strickland takes over the job Taft has held since 1999.

Taft has experienced the good and bad that come with being in the center of the state’s political spotlight, from highlights such as improved public school buildings and standards, Ohio’s reformed tax code and an economic incentive program to promote high-tech industries to lowlights such as his 2005 misdemeanor ethics conviction.

Despite his dismal approval ratings, Taft insists he’s leaving Ohio in better shape than it was when he was sworn in as the state’s 67th governor in January 1999.

“I feel we’re leaving the state better prepared to compete in the 21st century knowledge economy because of our focus on education and our focus on the economy,” Taft said.

Taft’s critics acknowledge some of his own proudest moments as beneficial for Ohio, but say they look forward to changed leadership in the governor’s office.

“Governor Taft had eight years to push his agenda. He was hamstrung by his ethical lapses,” Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Randy Borntrager said. “We believe it’s time to look to the future and turn around Ohio.”

Taking responsibility

Taft doesn’t shy away from taking responsibility for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation investment scandal that landed several individuals, including former Maumee coin dealer Tom Noe, behind bars, but said he took necessary action to ensure such problems won’t resurface.

“We inherited some problems in the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation that, because I received nothing but very positive reports from that department, I wasn’t aware of how seriously mismanaged their investment policy was,” Taft said. “I regret that we didn’t learn about that until late in the day with the Noe investigation and the revelations that occurred from that.

“I am proud of the fact that once we became aware of the problems there, we took action,” he said. “I believe the new leadership leaves the bureau in good shape for the next governor.”

Though his conviction for failing to report dozens of golf outings and gifts he received from lobbyists and businessmen did involve Noe, Taft said the Coingate scandal and his ethical slip-up were not connected.

“I think it was very visible and the timing was unfortunate with regard to what happened,” Taft said.

“I view the Workers’ Compensation [case] and Coingate as a separate issue from the fact that I made a mistake by failing to file complete financial disclosure forms. It was a bad mistake, but it was an inadvertent mistake. Once I realized I had done that, I came forward and voluntarily complied and took responsibility for that.”

Development

Despite Taft’s tumultuous 2005, he said his administration was able to reach such accomplishments as passing the state’s tax reform bill and the Jobs for Ohio bond initiative, which he believes will help secure manufacturing jobs and create new opportunities in emerging high-tech industries.

UT received an $18.6 million Third Frontier Project award to establish its Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Center, which will focus on solar power research and development. The Toledo region received $20.2 million in Third Frontier awards.

“We’re trying to build on Ohio’s research strengths and promote partnerships between research and business to create innovative new projects and create good, high-paying, high-tech jobs for the future,” Taft said. “Third Frontier is a major legacy of our administration and it’s going to continue into the future.”

Eliminating the state’s punitive tax on business investment and cutting the state income tax, he said, will help convince companies to invest in Ohio. Phasing out the state’s corporate income tax and replacing it with the Commercial Activity Tax will make Ohio more attractive for companies to locate in the state and sell products outside its boundaries, Taft said.

“We need to keep our manufacturing jobs and that’s what tax reform will do,” he said.

Education

Concerning education, Taft said the passing of his Ohio Core initiative, which puts a more rigorous high school curriculum in place, will create immediate benefits for students as they prepare for college and their careers. When he came into office, he said, there were no academic standards in the state’s public education system.

“Putting the [Ohio Core] bill into law, in and of itself, will send a strong message to students, starting ninth grade, that if they want to be successful in college, successful in their future job, that they really need to challenge themselves with a more rigorous curriculum,” he said.

Taft’s OhioReads initiative, he said, is responsible for doubling the percent of primary school children in Toledo Public Schools buildings who are good readers. That number is now 60 percent; it was below 30 percent when he took office eight years ago.

Though the amount of state aid to public schools for operations increased $2.2 billion during his time as governor, Taft said his administration was unsuccessful in solving school funding problems. He said a task force designated to come up with possible solutions to the problems was unable to sell its ideas to the Legislature. Taft said he’s hopeful the next administration will make addressing the funding issue one of its top priorities.

Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak cited Taft’s Jobs and Progress Plan, which spent $426 million in Lucas County road projects between 1999 and 2006, including the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway bridge, and Third Frontier Project as highlights of his governorship, but said she believes Ohioans are looking forward to change. She said Taft failed to implement a plan to make college tuition affordable for all young people.

“The middle class is being almost forced out of educational opportunities with paying for college,” Wozniak said.

What’s next?

As for what he will do next, Taft did not mention further political plans. He plans to travel to the East African nation of Tanzania, where he served in the Peace Corps 40 years ago. Professionally, he said he would like to teach at the university level in central or southern Ohio in the public policy arena.

Taft hopes to stay active in school reform.

“What I really care about is how do we help more children learn what they need to know to succeed today in the high-skills world in which we live,” he said.

The great-grandson of a former president, grandson and son of former U.S. senators, Taft said he is comfortable saying he’s continued his family’s tradition of public service.

“This is the best job I’ve ever had because of the opportunity to make a difference in very practical ways for people in the state,” Taft said. “I love Ohio.” 

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